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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Killybegs fish landings

Summary

Deputy Doherty raised repeated vessel refusals at Killybegs, the impact on workers and processors, and the inconsistency with a vessel landing in Derry. The Taoiseach said the Minister was actively engaging with the industry and the European Commission to find a resolution.

On Friday, a Danish vessel with a cargo of blue whiting was prevented from landing at Killybegs Harbour due to the approach that has been taken by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority with regard to how fish are weighed. Yesterday, a Norwegian fishing vessel was also prevented from landing at Killybegs. Some 54 workers were told that there was no work for them in the processing factory and were sent home. Today, as we speak, the same Norwegian vessel, the Ingrid Majalla, is pulling into the port of Derry, which operates under the same EU rules as Killybegs. Some 950 tonnes of fish will be offloaded from that vessel. Later today, there will be 40 lorry loads of fish will be transported from Derry to Killybegs for processing. That is an example of stupidity and madness. The situation is unacceptable. We understand that a third fishing vessel has decided not to even to attempt to land at Killybegs and is steaming back to Norway. There is a huge damage to our industry and to jobs. I ask the Taoiseach to instruct the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, to intervene because there is a solution available that the High Court has identified.

Comment on this

The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, has been very active in engaging with the fishing industry in respect of all these issues and in ensuring a pathway to a more structured relationship with the European Commission into the future than we have had in the past, which has caused many of these difficulties. The Minister is very aware of these issues and is engaging with all concerned to bring about a resolution in respect of them.

Comment on this

What is the Government going to do about it? These are jobs. The Taoiseach is talking about climate change. There are 40 lorries driving from Derry to Killybegs. It makes no sense.

Comment on this